Shirley Ann Hendrick, 80
Shirley Ann Hendrick, 80, passed away Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, peacefully, in the home of her daughter, Karen Danberg of Kalispell, surrounded by family.
Shirley was born to Alvin Louis Osborne and Helen Marie Mainard, on Oct. 30, 1937, in McCone City, Montana. She grew up on the Hi-Line of Montana. It was there that she met the love of her life, James John Hendrick. James and Shirley were married Feb. 8, 1953, in Cut Bank.
Their early years of marriage were spent farming James’s family homestead in Sunburst, Montana. There, Shirley maintained, harvested and preserved a huge garden to sustain her family for the following year and helped with the harvesting of the farm crops and farm animals.
In 1965, they moved to the Flathead Valley where Shirley worked at many restaurants, waitressing and cooking. She managed the Ski Bowl lunch counter in Whitefish for several years. An amazing cook, she was well known for her delicious cinnamon rolls, homemade pies and soups. Eventually James and Shirley ended up in Lakeside where they bought a home and a trailer court. They eventually built their dream home on Tacklin Creek in Lakeside.
Shirley loved her flowers, horses and mule trips with the Backcountry Horsemen, and playing old-time country and bluegrass on her bass, guitar with her husband James singing and playing guitar. They often performed at various events and activities around the valley.
She was always active in her children’s activities in 4-H, Scouts and school. Shirley participated and helped organize the early Lakeside/Somers Women’s Club and Lakeside Chamber of Commerce. She loved to play pinochle with her friends and family and enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her children and grandchildren remember fondly the annual Christmas parties that she and James hosted.
Shirley was preceded in death by husband James J. Hendrick, mother Helen Hagen and stepdad Clarence Hagen, father Alvin Osborne and stepmother Vieanna Osborne, brother Lester Osborne, and grandson Christopher Gene McCready.
Shirley is survived by her children, Debra (Gene) McCready, Daniel (Joyce Fletcher) Hendrick, Karen Danberg and Cynthia (William Dewey) Hendrick; her five grandchildren, Amanda (James) Stewart, Kelly (Gregory) Wilcox, Kari Hendrick, Lisa (Lucius Wheeler) Hendrick, and Tyler(Natasha) Hendrick; eight great-grandchildren, Annie Stewart, Hank Stewart, Jane Stewart, Josiah Stewart, Eli Wilcox, Lyndee Wilcox, Miles Wilcox and Alyssa Hendrick; two brothers, William Hagen and Henry Osborne; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; one great-aunt, Ethel Hagen; and one sister-in-law, Ella Hocheit.
A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, at the Sunburst Cemetery, Sunburst, where she will be buried beside her husband, James. Lunch and fellowship will follow at the Methodist Church in Sunburst. All are welcome to join the family.
A special thanks to hospice, her longtime doctors and caregivers, Tobey Schule at Sykes Pharmacy, and all of her many friends and family.
Darlington Cremation and Burial Service is caring for Shirley’s family. Please go to https://www.darlingtonfunerals.com and sign Shirley’s guest book and share memories of her.